Electric switch



AugL 23, 1932.

H. A. DOUGLAS ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec?l 16, 1929 Il A gill

Patented Aug. 23, 1932 j `unrriazp.sra

TES-

V, ,nanny A." DOUGLAS, or BRONS/N, MICHIGAN lmaic'i'iuc swrrcn yApplication ma' Deventer 16, 1929, senalfm. 414,489. y

invention relatesA to electric `switches and as a'numberof objects andv advantages.

In accordance with one characteristic of the inventlon one member of the switch 1s inclu sive of a metallic fork and the second mem,-

ber is inclusive' of a plurality of contacts respectively individual to 'the branches of the fork. kThe yfork is formed of resilient metal and the branches of the fork are adapted toy flex relatively to each other. A switch possessin these characteristics is of particularuse W ere `the fork. is `inclusive of three/or more branches which, by being relatively lexible,'readily permit of their kadapt-ation to depressions and rises in the partsengaged thereby. One of the switch membersy is lpreferably rectilineally movable and inforder that it may be maintained in proper relation to the other switch member a leveling device preferably a spring is employed which is located apart from the places of engagement of the switch contacts. Thisfleveling spring is de# e sirably interposed between both switch members and presses thereupon. This feature oi u" the invention is Ilot to'be limited to a switch structure having a fork shaped contacting portion. The'movable switch member ispreferably provided with a rack thereupon,l th'eref beingan operating pinion in mesh with the rack. A casing encloses the pinion rack and contacting portions ofthe switch. The pin is` provided with a contractible hub which` passes through an opening thatis formedin the casing. AT switch operating shaftis received byf the hub and a clamping collan.

upon the exterior of the casing, embracesfthe hub and clamps it into engagementwith said shaft and engages the. casing to prevent in#` ward movement of the shaft.

kThe foregoing and other'characteristics of the invention will be more fully explained' in j -conne'ctionfwith the accompanying drawing in which; Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a switch l which is particularly adapted for assembly 5 with a-steering gearhousing upon a steering column of an automotivev vehicle; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line `2-,-2 ofFig. 1;-Fig.

Sis a sectional lview online 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figli 4kk is a'detail view showing `parts of the structure in elevation; Fig isa sectional viewonline-:f of Figll; and Fig. 6 isv l The switch'illustrated has a member which 55,5

is' inclusive of a horizontally disposed insulating yplate 1, spring barrels 2 assembled with this plate and ,1 projectingy upwardly therefrom, a coiled spring 3 within each spring y barrel, a tubular metallic member 4 also within each spring barrelv and in sliding or tele scopic relation thereto, each tubular member receivingthe corresponding spring 3 therein and a resilient metallic contacting plate 5, which is fixedly secured to all of the tubular members 4v by meansof a metallic assembling plate 6 to which the plate 5 isclinched, as indicated at 7. Each tubular member 4 is provided With a flange 8 which isV interposed betweenfthe plates and 6 and is clamped in place bymeans of the shoulder 9 which holds the ange against the plate 5.k The plate 5 is upwardly bulged at each place thereof that is-in alignment with the parts 2, 3 and 4, as indicated at 10, these bulging portions constituting contacting parts. The plates 5 and 6 areof similarfork shape, one platebeing placed upon and in register with the other. These-.plates 5y and 6 are. ofspring metal, preferably brasspso that theybranches of the fork are relatively flexible to permit the contacts 10'to yride over parts v,engaged thereby, in the operation of the switch, the vcontacts 10 thus shaping themselves to non-coplanar parts engaged thereby without danger of sep-v arating these contacts from parts which'they should engage. yThe otherl switch member is s inclusive of anotherinsulating plate 11, metallic rkspring barrels 12v mounted .upon and projecting upwardly `from theplate 11 and metallic `contacting bars 13 which are mechanicallyr 'andV electrically united with the two end springbarrels 12. Thebars v13 are'receiVed'within recesses rformed withinfthe bottom side ofzthe plate 11. The upwardly spring pressed contacts 14 are receivedwithin the barrels 12y and project into the spaces in the enlarged upper endsor extensions of the barrels 12 that receive ythe metallic terminal plugs 15, which are engaged by the contacts 14.

The bottom ends of the spring barrels 12 are formed with cavities which are adapted to receive the contacts 10, as will later more fully appear. The insulating plate 1 and the parts thereon are rectilineally movable to bring the contacts 10 into and out of engagement with the barrels 12. These contacts, being upon the outer ends of the branches of the fork shaped member, are adapted to rise and fall relatively as they move into and out of engagement with the barrels 12 that thus constitute contacts complemental to the contacts 10. These contacts are arranged in a straight row and the barrel contacts 12 are also arranged in a straight row, the two rows being in similar direction and in lapping relation. When the switch is applied to an automotive vehicle one of the bars 13 may constitute a. tail light terminal and the other a battery terminal, the intervenin g spring barrels constituting head light, dimming'and parking'light contacts.

The switch illustrated may be provided with a casing 16' of which theA insulating plate 11 constitutes a closure. This casing'encloses the plate 1 and the parts assembled therewith. Mounting brackets 17 are secured to the casingand serve to mount the same upon the steering gear housing'that is assembled ,with the steering column. V

The mechanism for moving the movable switch member is desir-ably inclusive ora rack l18 that is formed of a strip of metal which is sinuously curved to form the rack teeth. This rack is desirably carried by theplzte 1. A pinion 19` is in mesh with the rack. The- ,casing 16 also enclosesl said gear elements..

A tubular hub 20, formed of resilient metall', is notched, as indicated aztf21,.to make it contractible. The switch operating shaft 22 is provided with a suitable operating means such as the knob123- and is passed through, an opening, which'. is formed in` the casing 16, and into the hub.` A clamping collar 24 embraces the hub and clamps it into` engagevment with the shaft toL prevent inward move ment of the' shaft. This; clamping collar is equipped with a suitable clamping screw 25. Outward movement of the shaft is prevented by the engagement of the hub enlargement 26 with the inner side of the casing 16. The pinion 19 is thus confined to a. fixed plane of rotation. In order that the pinion` may be readily assembled the combined axial length thereof together with its hub is less than the space between the side walls of the casing 16,

`so that said hub may be dropped into alignment with the opening in the casing that re- .ceives it. when the insulating plate l1 is not in position. Thev portions of the casing through which the hub 20 passes are laterally deflected and extended ask illustrated i-n Fig. 5 to form a bearing for the hub.

The springs in the barrel 2 take part in leveling the plate l. A leveling device, preferably a spring 27, is interposed between and presses upon both of the switch members, the spring 27 being contained within a spring barrel 28 which is assembled with the insulating plate 1. A plunger 29 is telescopically received within the spring barrel 28 and is pressed against the insulating plate 11, or the contacting ends of the spring barrels 12, accordin'g to the position in wlnch the plate 1 is placed upon its rectilineal movement that 1s caused by rotation of the pinion 19. The spring 21'- and the parts through which it exerts its pressure are mounted apart from the contacts 10, that is upon one side of this row of contacts so that it readily cooperates with the springs 3 in the barrels 2 to maintain the plate 1 level throughout the entire range of rectilineal movement thereof.

The cavities in the bottom faces` of the barrels 12'serve to hold the platel 1 and the parts thereon in position when the current conducting contacts are in engagement. Detents 30, which are desirably inwardly bulged portions of the casing 16, enter spaces betweenthe rack teeth to hold the plate 1 in position when the switch is in circuitv opening adjustment. These detents may also take part in holding the plate 1 in position when the switch is in circuit closing adjustment.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having' thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A switch including one` member inclusive of a part in the form of a metallic fork; a second member inclusive of a plurality of contacts respectively individual to the branches-of the fork, said members being rela:- tively movable in a direction generally parallel' to the plane of the fork and relatively positioned to enable the making' and breaking of engagement between said forkbranches and contacts; and a leveling spring locate-tlk apart from the places of engagement of the contacts and fork branches and pressing upon both members.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the leveling spring is interposed between the switch members.

3. A switch including one member inclusive of a part in the form of a metallic fork having three branches; a second member inclusive of a; plurality of contacts respectively individual to the branches of the fork, said members being relatively movable in a direction generally parallel tothe plane of the fork and relatively positioned to enable the making and breaking of engagement between said fork branches and contacts; and a leveling spring located apart from the places of engagement of the contacts and forkv branches and pressing upon both members wherein the fork is formed of resilient metal and the branches of the fork are adapted to flex relatively to each other.

4. A switch including one member inclusive of a part in the form of a metallic fork; a second member inclusive of a plurality of contacts respectively individual to the branches of the fork, said members being relatively movable in a direction generally arallel to the plane of the fork and relatively positioned to enable the making and breaking of engagement between said fork branches and contacts; and springs, one located at each place of engagement of the contacts with they fork branches and pressing these parts together when in register.

5. A switch including one member inclusive of a part in the form of a metallic fork; a second member inclusive of a plurality of contacts respectively individal to the branches of the fork, said members being relatively movable in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the fork and relativel positioned to enable the making and brea ing of engagement between said fork branches and contacts; springs, one located at each place of engagement of the contacts with the' fork branches and pressing these parts together when in register; and a leveling spring located apart from the places of engagement of the contacts and fork branches and pressing upon both members.

6. `A switch including one member inclusive of a part in the form of a metallic fork having three branches; a second member inelusive of a plurality of contacts respectively individual to the branches of the fork, said members being relatively movable in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the fork and relatively positioned to enable the making and breaking of engagement between said fork branches and contacts; and springs one located at each place of engagement of the contacts with the fork branches and pressing these parts together when in register wherein the fork is formed of resilient metal and the branches of the fork are adapted to flex relatively to each other.

7. A switch including one member inclusive of a part in the form of a metallic fork having three branches; a second member inelusive of a plurality of contacts respectively individual to the branches of the fork, said members being relatively movable in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the fork and relatively positioned to enable the lmaking and breaking of engagement between said fork branches and contacts; springs one located at each place of engagement of tbe contacts with the fork branches and pressing these parts together when in register wherein the fork is formed of resilient metal and the branches of the fork are adapted to flex relatively to each other; and a leveling g spring located apart from the places of engagement ofthe contactsa'nd fork branches and pressing upon both members. f

8.'A switch including two contact bearing members relatively movable rectilineally to bring the contacts thereon into andY out of engagementyand a leveling spring-located apart from! the places'of engagement of the contacts and pressing upon both members.` *9. The structure of claim 8 wherein the leveling spring switch members;

10. A switch including two contact bearing members relatively movable rectilineally to bring the contacts thereon into and out of engagement; a rack and a switch operating pinion meshing with the rack, one of these gear elements being upon one of the aforesaid switch members which is between the other gear element and the other switch member, the latter gear element being mounted apart from the first; and a sprin pressing upon both switch members and pressing one of said gear elements upon the other to maintain them in mesh.

11. The structure of claim 10 wherein the spring is'between both switch members.

12. A switch including two contact bear-v ing members relatively movable rectilineally to bring the contacts thereon into and out of engagement; a rack and a switch operating pinion meshing with the rack, one of these gear elements being upon one of the aforesaid switch members which is between the other gear element and the other switch member, the latter gear element being mounted apart from the first; a spring pressing upon both switch members and pressing one of said gear elements upon the other to maintain them in mesh; and a detent engageable i with the gear element that is upon one of the switch members to hold this member in selected position.

13. A switch including two Contact bearing members relatively movable rectilineally to bring the contacts thereon into and out of engagement; a rack upon one of the switch members; a pinion in mesh with the rack; a casing enclosing the pinion, rack and contiguous portions of the switch; a contractible hub for the pinion passing through an opening that is formed in the casing; a switch operating shaft received by said hub; and a clamping collar upon the exterior of the casing and embracing said hub and clamping it into engagement with said shaft and engaging said casing to prevent inward movement of the shaft.

14. A switch including one member inclusive of a part in the form of a metallic fork; a second member inclusive of a plurality of contacts respectively individual to the branches of the fork, said members being relatively movable in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the fork and relatively positioned to enable the making and isy interposed betweenthe ISS breaking of engagement between said fork branches and contacts; and a leveling device located apart from the places 0f engagement of the contacts and fork branches and engaging upon both members.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein the leveling device is interposed between the. switch members.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe I0' my naine.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

